Care for under two-year-olds variable - report

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A report by the Children's Commissioner today highlighting concerns about childcare policies is a timely call to take the care and education of New Zealand's under two-year-olds seriously, the NZ Childcare Association (NZCA) says.

Children's Commissioner John Angus said today that a review by his office had found the quality of care provided for under-two-year-olds was variable.

He recommended a number of changes including reducing the number of under-twos in one group, increasing the ratio of staff per child and placing more emphasis on the specific knowledge and skills needed to work with this age group.

He also called for better funding support for parents who chose to stay at home to look after their infants.

NZCA chief executive Nancy Bell said the report was timely given the Government's recent relaxation of early childhood education (ECE) licensing requirements and potential increases to group sizes for under twos.

The report said: "The infants and toddler group has the fastest growing number of enrolments with around 32,000 children under the age of two currently in formal ECE.

"Ensuring a strong regulatory framework that supports their needs is of particular concern to our members and the sector as a whole."

Ms Bell said the research on the under twos was unequivocal, young children in ECE needed sustained interactions from responsive adults who were well educated in children's learning and development patterns.

"These adults also need to be able to develop strong relationships with the child's parents and whanau and the partnership between parents, whanau and qualified capable early childhood teachers ensures the best possible outcomes for young children."

Unfortunately, the regulated minimum standards in New Zealand were low, with the regulated adult to child ratios set at one adult to five under two year olds, with only 50 percent of teachers at any service required to hold a qualification, Ms Bell said.

"In practice, this means that many under twos do not receive the care of a qualified teacher."

Lobby group Family First NZ also welcomed the report as timely.

"It is timely that it is released in the same month that the Government has announced a policy on early childhood education centre sizes which is flawed, harmful to children, babies and parents, and will end up treating children with less dignity than animals such as pigs and hens," national director Bob McCoskrie said.

The new regulations for childcare would triple the maximum number of under twos at a centre from 25 to 75, and the maximum centre size of all pre-schoolers from 50 to 150, he said.

"We are 'packing and stacking' them."

The report offered real choice and information rather than continuing with the current "one size fits all" approach, Mr McCoskrie said.

Meanwhile, the New Zealand Education Institute (NZEI) said the report reinforced the call for a 100 percent fully qualified early childhood teaching workforce.

"It stresses the importance of providing quality early childhood education by a skilled and knowledgeable workforce," the union's national executive member Hayley Whitaker said.

It was refreshing to see the report focus on the value of qualified teachers for this age group, and was in sharp contrast to the government's position which was doing all it could to devalue and undermine quality early childhood education, she said.

"There's no doubt that very young babies and families benefit from having as much time together as possible and parents often face a difficult decision about if, when and how they can return to work.

"Early childhood education provides the building blocks for all children's learning and babies and toddlers are no different."

Any move to strengthen and improve the provision of care for infants and toddlers should be given the weight they deserve, Ms Whitaker.

- NZPA